When discussing Emirati Football, “Al Ain FC “ stands out as an icon, a jewel in the desert. When it comes to history, excellence and strategy, “Al Ain FC” is “The Boss” of them all.
Al Ain FC is a professional football club based in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Also known as Al Zaeem (The Boss) or “The Purple Brigade”, It is one of the most successful clubs in UAE and Asian football history.
It was established in 1968 by players of Al Ain, members of a Bahraini group of exchange students and the Sudanese Community working in the UAE.
In its 57 years of existence, Al Ain has broken records and is setting Continental and inter-continental records. It’s the most successful club in the UAE with 14 Pro League titles, 7 President’s Cups, 5 Super Cups, 3 Federation Cups, 2 League Cups, 2 Abu Dhabi Championships, Gulf Club Champions Cup, 2 AFC Champions League and One Emirati Morrocan Super Cup.
The Hazza bin Zayed Stadium which is located in Al Ain serves as the home base for the Al Ain Football Club, it can seat about 25,000 people at once. It hosted the 2017 and 2018 FIFA Club World Cups, as well as the AFC Asian Cup. It’s a modern-day masterpiece which should be visited by football fans from all over the world, not just for the beauty of the stadium, but to also enjoy the electrifying atmosphere created by the fans who fill the stadium with chants, songs and passion as they show their undying loyalty to their club.
Al Ain FC has always been the pride of Emirati Football. The club made history with their performance during the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup which was hosted by the UAE. They shocked the world when they got to the Finals. This was unprecedented in Emirati football and unexpected for any team from the UAE Pro League. Unfortunately, they were demolished 4-1 by Real Madrid who, of course, won the tournament. However, when they return to the Club World Cup, later this month, they will need another shock or two to make it past the group stage.
The club has been home to some great players in the past and present. Legends like Ahmed Abdalla-their all-time top scorer, Abedi Pele, who played from 1998- 2000 and scored 31 goals. More recent players like Asamoah Gyan, who remains among the club’s top 3 goal scorers till date; Kaku, the Paraguayan attacking midfielder; Kodjo Laba, the Togolese attacker and goal machine. Omar Abdulrahman, Saudi Arabian attacking midfielder with 38 goals, and Soufiane Rahimi, the Moroccan winger who led his club to win the 2023-2024 AFC Champions League. These players are carrying the torch, keeping the fire burning and ensuring Al Ain FC continues its legacy as the lighthouse of the UAE.
Al Ain FC is also known for its strong fanbase, youth development (through its academy), and consistent performances in both UAE and Asian competitions.
They are definitely the underdogs at this tournament and are up for some stiff competition, considering the fact that they will go head-to-head with two European giants in the group stage. Certainly, many will love to see them shock the world like they did in 2018. Although, that seems unlikely considering their sub par performances in the just concluded 2024/2025 season.
Fun Fact: Al Ain is called the “Purple Brigade” because of their club’s purple colours, which was inspired by the Belgian club Anderlecht, during a training camp in Morocco in 1977. During a friendly tournament organised by Wydad Casablanca, Al Ain was impressed by Anderlecht’s purple strips and decided to adopt the colour for their own team.
